Portholes

ABSTRACT

A porthole consisting of a frame, portlight, and flexible wings attached to the porthole frame that provide an opening that will allow the free movement of air through said opening while not allowing water in the form of rain or spray from entering this same opening.

United States Patent Gray Dec. 18, 1973 [54] PORTHOLES 1,732,870 10/1929 Weaver 49/71 45, 1. 4 [76] Inventor: Arnold Leo Gray, PO. Box 8236, 568 7/1915 Ddrdmo 9/7] 7007 N. Rome, Tampa, Fla. 33604 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 9, 1972 25,914 12/1905 Great Britain 114/178 [22] Flled June 25,893 11/1909 Great Britain 114/178 [21] Appl. No.: 261,306

Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix [52] US. Cl. 114/178 Assismm Examiner-Gale" Barefoot [51] Int. Cl B63b 19/00 [58] Field of Search 114/177, 178; 49/71, 57 ABSTRACT 2 1 1 2 178 49/ 6 16/171 7 A porthole consisting of a frame, porthght, and flexi- [561 :1?$251,311,371? izxiii'iizfzzislizi13/2: UNITED STATES PATENTS through said opening while not allowing water in the 2,032,126 2/1936 Hankms 1. 49/261 f f rain or Spray f entering this same Opening 3,663,990 5/1972 Shane 1. 16/171 2,187,078 1/1940 Grigsby 49/261 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PORTHOLES This invention is an improvement to portholes, and due to its unique new design they can be left open for ventilation and at the same time will keep normal rain, waves, spray and miscellaneous water from entering the boat through the frame opening.

Portholes are normally a frame and a spigot fastened in the hull or cabin of a boat for light ventilation. Attached to this frame with hinges is a cover of glass nor mally called a portlight, and this portlight is held closed against the frame with bolts and wing nuts. A gasket of rubber or other resilient material around the opening between the frame and the portlight forms a watertight seal to keep water from entering when the portlight is closed.

Existing portholes are a constant source of concern for the boater, because of the ever-present possibility of water entering the boat from rain, spray, wash-down or condensation if the porthole is open. Most boaters, because of this, leave the portholes closed thus obtaining the benefit of light but losing out on ventilation.

An additional problem with present porthole design is that when closed the present portlights trap and retain water in the lower portion of the frame, and when the portlight is opened this water runs down the inside of the bulkhead.

In summary it could be said that existing porthole designs do not provide adequate protection.

It is the object of this invention to provide a porthole that can be left open for ventilation and at the same time give protection from water entering from all the normal sources encountered in boating.

The construction and function of the invention will become apparent from the following specifications and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the inside with the portlight in the open position.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the center of the porthole with the portlight in the closed position.

FIG. 3 is a section through the lower portion of the porthole showing the portlight in the open position.

In FIG. 1 the porthole frame is marked 11, portlight 12, dog bolts 13, portlight adjuster 14, water stop 15, side wings 16, insect screen 17, spigot 20.

When the portlight is in open position as in FIG. 1, water such as rain or spray directed against it from the outside will run down into the water stop and then outside. The flexible wings 16 prevent water from entering through the natural V presented between the frame 11 and the portlight l2 and divert it down into the water stop 15. The flexible wings 16 are fastened in the frame and fold in between the frame 11 and the portlight 12 when the portlight is closed as in FIG. 2.

In the closed position as in FIG. 2 the grommet 18 provides a seal against the frame 11 at the sides and the top and against the water stop 15 at the bottom. The water stop 15 directs all water to the outside and in addition serves as the hinging point for the portlight 12.

In FIG. 3 referring to the lower inside part of the portlight 12, the projection 19 serves to push against the water stop 15 to hold the portlight 12 against the frame 11 when the portlight 12 is in the closed position as in FIG. 2. Again referring to the closed position, notice that the water stop 15 has a lip pointing towards the outside, and the projection 19 on the portlight 12 comes in contact with this lip on the water stop 15, and holds the portlight 12 down to compress the seal 18 against the water stop 15 as in FIG. 2.

I claim:

1. A porthole construction comprising a frame with the top member having an outwardly directed attached member effecting an L shaped section and sides with a similar outwardly directed member and a constricting inner member projecting inward and upward from the inner face of the bottom of the porthole the combination thereof, comprises a water trough as well as a hinge; a portlight consisting of a flat clear member sufficient in size to extend beyond the porthole opening at the top and sides of the frame and setting in the water trough at the bottom of the frame; embedded in the face of the portlight at its top and sides and in the edge at the bottom is a flexible member whose purpose is to provide a seal between the frame and portlight at the top and sides and between the lower portlight edge and the water trough-hinge section at the bottom of the frame when the portlight is in the closed position; a projection on the inner bottom face of the portlight, conforming to and mating with the constricting hinge section on the inner face of the frame, provides a hinge without a pintle as well as a water trough; and, attached to the side of the frame are rectangular clear plastic members whose purpose is to provide a closure for the V shaped area between the frame and portlight when the portlight is in the open position; said plastic members extending from the vertical sides of the frame and from there inwardly to the outer face of the portlight not coming into contact with the portlight at right angles but being larger than the V shaped area, the clear plastic members being curved and coming into contact with the outer face of the portlight in a manner making a portion of the flat plastic surface lay parallel with and against the outer face of the portlight creating a barrier to water entering at this contact point; these described components of frame, portlight, and plastic members make up a porthole that allows air and light to enter but does not allow water in the form of rain or spray to enter when the portlight is in the open position. 

1. A porthole construction comprising a frame with the top member having an outwardly directed attached member effecting an ''''L'''' shaped section and sides with a similar outwardly directed member and a constricting inner member projecting inward and upward from the inner face of the bottom of the porthole the combination thereof, comprises a water trough as well as a hinge; a portlight consisting of a flat clear member sufficient in size to extend beyond the porthole opening at the top and sides of the frame and setting in the water trough at the bottom of the frame; embedded in the face of the portlight at it''s top and sides and in the edge at the bottom is a flexible member whose purpose is to provide a seal between the frame and portlight at the top and sides and between the lower portlight edge and the water troughhinge section at the bottom of the frame when the portlight is in the closed position; a projection on the inner bottom face of the portlight, conforming to and mating with the constricting hinge section on the inner face of the frame, provides a hinge without a pintle as well as a water trough; and, attached to the side of the frame are rectangular clear plastic members whose purpose is to provide a closure for the ''''V'''' shaped area between the frame and portlight when the portlight is in the open position; said plastic members extending from the vertical sides of the frame and from there inwardly to the outer face of the portlight not coming into contact with the portlight at right angles but being larger than the ''''V'''' shaped area, the clear plastic members being curved and coming into contact with the outer face of the portlight in a manner making a portion of the flat plastic surface lay parallel with and against the outer face of the portlight creating a barrier to water entering at this contact point; these described components of frame, portlight, and plastic members make up a porthole that allows air and light to enter but does not allow water in the form of rain or spray to enter when the portlight is in the open position. 